Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-29

on. ~
I'm sure I'm boring YOU and it's mas
ty subject, and Pm doing all the talking
and I'm an lawfully bad 'talker. Let's talk
of something else mo, | am really in
terested about this lady. Are they going to
arrest hery'
YES, fancy so; but not just yet.
/ They've got scheme arranged so that
she'll run right into the trap. | don't
know as / ought to speak about that,
thought you see. it hasn't come off vet and
as | was told in confidence, suppose |
ought not to-
Surely you don't think will betray any
confidence. And for that matter as YOU
have mentioned no name, how could T."
you won't think I'm making it up, will
you; Because it was put before me in such
way that honestly. | can't help believing
il IS true, though of course it docs seem very
extraordinary. aud all that"
II certainly don't question that ror he
lieve the story. SO far rs I'm concerned
it don't make any difference whether its
really true or not; but you make it very
entertaining"
Thanks; you're very kind. I'm sure.
! Well the way of it is this Last night
this pcrson--thiS lady you hnow-went to
Grady's at Il quarter to O'Clock and staid
with him over an hour oh, forgot to say
that the stuff the thieves got out of the bank
was only a small part of it in cash-a great
lot of it was in securities and bonds that
couldn't be- negotiated. OF course they
would hope to find some way to realizing
something out of Them and their idea would
be to keep them in some place where the
bank couldn't possibly get at them until at
last the directors would be compelled, to es-
cape insolvency to open negotiations with the
thieves and offer to compromise with them
onthe basis of paying them percentage of
the face value of the bonds. | don't know
If | make myself clear
Il understand perfectly" returned the
lady III voice scarcely audible.
well, now, there was only one way the
bank could parry that attack -assuming of
course that they gave up all hope of getting
back the original bonds and securties-and
that was to get duplicates to replace them.
But IN order to do that they would be
obliged to get special bill passed by Con
gress authorizing the duplication. So they
decided to try and do that. But the thieves
were on the alert and were not long in find
ing out what the bank intended. 1t was an
important matter for both sides-the loss of
over two million dollars one way or the
other Everything possible must be done to
stop or delay the passage of that bill They
consulted Grady, and he told them the only
thing to be done was to hire some one to 90
mp to Washington and lobby against the
hlll-that is. ! suppose, offer money, or
some other lnducement, to the legislators to
vote against it, Grady said he would put
up Il certain amount of money to defray the
expenses aud would send n person in whom
he had confidence to do the lobbying. pro
vlded that they tthe thieves, You know
would raise an equal amount of money on
their side out of the cash proceeds of the
robbery. They talked over the matter. and
made it out that even if the thieves taxed
themselves all they had it wouldn't be
enough nearly to balance Gradv's advance
SO finally he agreed to give double what he
at first proposed, to add to whatever they
could raise among themselves. on condition
that if the lobby were successful he was to
receive half of whatever sum they coull yet
10y compromise with the bank on the bonds
So, You see, if the compromise was for fifty
per cent of the face value. for instance the
thieves would yet upward of IA million dol
lars and Grady would get upward of half a
million all to himself
"N ELL now. to 60 back to last night OF
course you can see without my telling YOU
that the person whom Grady had decided to
send to Washington to do the lobbying for
the thieves was this lady. She knew two or
three lobbyiStS-men who would be likely to
accept the kind OF inducements she was able
to ofer-and woman like her. clever and
beautiful and with plenty of money. would
be enough to tempt any mainland she was
to start this morning. on this very train. by
the way, and There. now Mrs. Mel
exclaimed Ia nj
breaking OF and changing his tone. Il was
sure | was boring you. Why didn't you tell
me before|' Aren't you feeling well. Shall
send for glass of water:'
The lady had leaned back in her chair,
half closing her eyes, and with whiteness
spreading round her lips, which We're sticky
and tremulous. But she was very cour-
ageous woman, and in less than a minute
she had regained command of herself and
sat erect again.
~ ou-you called ma name " She said
and paused, looking at him
did |? Only slip of the tongue. | as
sure you don't know you from Adam-if
you don't want to be known, There. now.
take some time-dun't be- worried Think
it all over and then tell me what YOU Il like
to do.n
He rose from his chair put his silk skull
cap in the pocket of his uvcrcoat resumed
his other hat and his rubbcl's and took a look
out of the window.
I'VE shall be at Wilmington in about 10
| minutes more, he remarked, sitting down
again. II have great mind--if nothing
should occur to prevent ito get out there
| ana take the next train back to New York
1t Will depend upon what news | receive be
fore the train stops" He took out his
watch. Just 10 minutesn' he repeated
What are they going TO do to this lady"
she inquired.
They don't want to do ANYTHING If
possible, they would prefer to overlook what
she has already done. She helped to steal
the money, but she has as yet done moth
ing to prevent its being recovered Of
course, though, if she were to attempt that
lobbying business they would be compelled
to arrest her, On the other hand, she would
BE- expected, in consideration of not being
moleSted, to cease acting any longer in any
way in the interest of the robbers. And
|